Envelope or container



Nov. 10, 1942. A. s. CHANDLER ENVELOPE OR CONTAINER Filed May 16, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 YINVENTOR. JVSTl/VJ (fix/V0417? ATTORNEY Nov. 10, 1942. A. s. CHANDLER ENVELOPE OR CONTAINER I Fi-led May 16, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. 69,4

fair/1V J:

1 TORNY.

Patented Nov. 10, 1942 2,301,255 ENVELOPE OR CONTAINER Austin S.

to The Brown Fitchburg, Mass., a corporation of setts Chandler, Fitchburg,

Bag Filling Machine Company,

Mass, assignor Massachu- Application May 16, 1939, Serial No. 274,060

3 Claims.

This invention relates to envelopes and particularly to paper envelopes such as are known as flat bags in the package filling art, and has for an object to provide a new means for enabling the ready and rapid opening of such bags after filling with any of various products ordinarily sold in such containers, in order to enable ready discharge of the contents.

It is an important aim of the invention to enable the provision of a shearing blade in the end of such a bag which will function in a way having peculiar advantages, especially for enabling the discharge of fluid contents into receptacles, as occurs in the case of small packages of cocoa, flavorings, color pigments or other materials, not necessarily pulverulent or granular.

A further object is to permit the embodiment of such a device in a way to avoid excessive bulkiness, and to enable a package to be made up therewith so that it will not exceed the usual boundaries or occupy more than the usual amount of space of prior packages of the general kind with similar capacity.

An important object of the invention is to provide a means for suspending a filled bag from a hook or nail, or to permit its fastening by a nail or screw, without opening the package or forming communication with the interior of the packe.

An important aim of the invention is to enable the ready opening of a package while held over a receptacle with the part being opened so presented that the contents may immediately -fa1l directly into such receptacle, with a minimum of uncertainty of direction, and with a minimum liability of getting the packaged product on the hands or impeding the passage of the product to the receptacle. This is especially important in the dispensing of foods, in avoiding spillage of the product beyond the receptacle into which others, all of which lack certain capabilities and advantages of my invention.

In some, if not all of the prior articles, there is great uncertainty in the direction of discharge of the contents of the package as it is being opened and the contents begin to fall from the package, if it is attempted to hold it over a receptacle with the discharge end downward while the opening manipulation is carried out. Also certain of them are of such nature that further manipulation of the open end of the package must be carried out to free the contents after operation of the rip device. In one or more cases this requires the hand of the user to be in the path which the contents normally take in falling from the package.

It is an aim of the invention also to enable the production of a package of pulverulent materials which will be secure against sifting of the contents from seam or corners, and also to close off the contents from gummed areas, or sealing materials, so that contamination, or flavoring of delicate foods or other products will be avoided.

Another object is to present a bag having the above advantages which also may be used in standard bag filling machines for introduction it is desired to introduce it, as well as in avoiding offense to patrons or partakers of food prepared with the goods removed from such packages. These attainments are also important in the use of small packages of chemicals of various kinds, among which may be mentioned photographic developing powders and fixing materials; paint pigments caustic cleansers, or poisonous materials,

I am aware of prior patents for facilitating opening of such packages by shearing means, or end-opening tabs, including Hays, No; 177,714; Duryee, No. 423,226; West, 442,840; Timmis, No. 682,296; Hahn, 1,870,908; Swift, 1,981,440; and

6 5 the bottom flap of the bag.

of materials and sealing of the bag.

It is a still further object to present a novel manner of incorporating an inserted blade device in such bags, to the end that it will serve the combined functions of a cutting member to cut a slit in the end of the bag, as a confining member to hold the blade in inoperative position in compact form, and in addition provide a suspension tongue which may be nailed to a support or hang on a hook or the like safely.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention reside in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts, and the manner of their formation, assembly and use, as will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan of the blank for a bag and on which is indicated how my blade is positioned in the first stage of bag forming.

Figure 2 is a detail of the blade insert:

Figure 3 is a detail of a modified blade insert; b Figure 4 is a back view of the partly completed Figure 5 is a back view of the completed bag.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the lower part of the bag, at one stage of manuiacture.

Figure 7 is a similar view showing the fold of Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing the blade applied to a bag formed from a standard blank,

Figure 9 is a view of the blank last mentioned ready for forming of the back wall.

Figure 10 is a back view of the bag in course of production from a standard bag blank, indicating the location of my blade thereon, and the gum for the bottom flap,

Figure 11 shows the folding of the bottom of A the last mentioned bag.

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing one manner in which the bag may be manipulated for opening, in the first stage of opening.

Figure 13 is a similar View showing a further stage of the opening of the bag.

Figure 14 is a View showing another manner of manipulating the bag.

There is illustrated a bag which may be formed from a standard blank, the. latter including a front wall portion 20, side flaps 2 [-22 of familiar form, adapted to be folded on side creases 23 to form a back seam 24.. A closing tongue 25 is projected from the wall at the upper end, and in one form of my bag the conventional bottom end tongue 26 may be included, but in Figures 1, 4, 5, and 6, this bottom tongue is omitted, and the blank is so cut that the lower edges of the front wall 20 and the side flaps 2| and 22 consist of a single rectilinear edge, and when the side flaps are folded in and secured together at the seam 24, the bag constitutes a flattened tube open at the top and having no part to be folded over the ends of the side flaps. The bag of Figures 1 to 6 has gum 21 applied to the edge of one of the side flaps, and entirely across the bottom of the blank, as at 28. Either at or before the folding inward of the side flaps, a blade piece or insert 3i] is laid upon the gummed lower edge of the wall this blade being the same width as the wall Zil, so as to lie snugly at the creases 23, and then the flaps 2'! and 22 are folded closely inward thereover, and pressed down upon the insert, sealing it in place, sealing the seam 24, forming a back wall 29, and closing the bottom of the bag as in Fig. 4.

Ordinary stiff paper of suitable Weight and manufacturing treatment has been used in forming the blade. The blade may if desired, be a plastic, such as a synthetic gum or other material, or may be a fiber sheet impregnated with such gum or other binder and hardener, or a vulcanized fiber board, and the sheet may consist of heavily pressed fiber sheet material of any kind having the quality hereinafter indicated, whether attained by pressure alone, or impregnation or molecular alteration, or two or all treatments indicated. I have found it possible to use a one-ply board or sheet such as woodpulp impregnated with shellac, or otherwise treated to give it a very hard quality and to make it resistant to breakage or severance in normal use. A simple paper is available on the open market known as Post-Card Bristol which has been used without impregnation or other treatment.

This insert has an inner blade portion 3!, having a rectilinear cutting or severing edge 32, the blade being slightly wider longitudinally of the bag than the longitudinal extent of the inclosing portions of the wallsZU and 29 of the bag, so that a part of the blade lies outward of the end of the bag. In practice, the width of the blade from the severing edge 32 to the back or outer edge of the blade at the ends has been approximately onehalf an inch, although it may be made wider or slightly narrower. On the outer edge of the blade an enlargement or tab 33 is formed which is simply an extension of the sheet material with curved edges making it symmetrical and ornamental, and it may extend for half an inch or more longitudinally of the bag, outwardly of the blade and from the attached portions of the bag walls. The tab preferably extends a substantial distance along the blade, rather than being narrow, and in practice it has been so broad as to come within three quarters of an inch of the ends of the blade, and extended from its base on the blade about the same distance longitudinally of the bag. As shown in Figure 2, the blade edge 32 may be rectilinear, but I prefer to form a serrated edge instead, as in Figure 3, where the series of points 34 formed on the edge of the blade will greatly facilitate its performance of the functions desired, as will be understood hereinafter.

The container, with the blade merely inserted and secured, may be left in this form for use, and at this time the upper end is open for introduction of materials to be enclosed or packaged, which may be done in a bag filling machine. The closing tongue 25 may be gummed and the upper end closed by such machine in any of the conventional ways, or by hand. In this form, the blade and tab are extended in the major plane, of the bag, and the tab 33 projects outward from the end of the bag. This is most convenient if it is desired to hang the bag from a hook support, or tack it on a board or otherwise. The top may be apertured for the purpose as at 33', if desired.

I prefer, however, to form a crease 35 transversely across the Whole body of the bag, immediately at, or inward of, the edge 32 of the blade, the blade and tab with attached bag parts then constituting a back flap; and to fold the blade and attached bag portions inwardly toward the back wall 29 of the container. After the formation of the crease 35, or before, a spot or spots or tacks of adhesive 36 are applied to the side of the tab 33, then the latter, and the attached portions of the bag walls are pressed inward against the body of the wall 29 and held sufiiciently for the adhesive to retain the back flap close against the body of the bag.

This folding of the blade with the attached parts of the bag causes the outer wall 26 to be drawn taut against the inner wall at the crease or fold of the latter, closing, the interior or main portion of the bag from communication with the exposed edge of the blade within the bag, and from such gum as may be exposed beside the blade adjacent its severing edge. Two or more spots or tacks 36 of adhesive may be applied or other conformation of the adhesive or other materials applied, suitable for releasably or detachably fastening the tab and blade against the back of the container, or a special adhesive such as that used for fastening the borders of sheets of fly-paper together may be used, if desired. The essential requirement is that the attachment shall be weaker than the material of the blade and tab. If desired, opposed tacks 37 of adhesive may be applied to the body of the bag so as to register with the adhesive on the tab when the latter is pressed to the bag. In addition, the crease forms a line of distortion in the paper of the bag, which will facilitate its severance when required, as will be described.

With the bag so constructedthe tab 33 may be pulled away from theback wall of the bag without destroying the continuity of the bag or blade,

and the blade manipulated to sever the end of blade causes the wall portions at the bag, as will be described, andpermit pouring the contents of the bag through the open bot tom, or the contents may drop from thebag ash is opened, and so fall directly into any receptacle over-which the bag is held at the time.

In Figures 8 to 11 there is indicated a modifi cation of th placing and utilization of the blade, the latter not being positioned within the end of the bag and between the walls and 29, but being laid over and against the outer side or the back wall 29 after infolding of the side flaps of the blank. A tongue 26 is included in this blank, consisting of an extension of the material of the front wall 20 a short distance beyond the back wall 29. This tongue and the back wall are secured by adhesive to the blade. The blade 30 in this instance may be of th same form and size as the blade 30 previously described. -The bag is creased as at 58, across its fullwidth, including both walls of the bag, the recess of the crease being formed at the same side with the blade 30, and close to the end of the latter, and gum tacks or spots 36' and 31' may be applied to the tab portion of the blade and to the back wall 29 of the bag, as before, after which the blade and the lapped end portion of the bag are folded inward and pressed down to be secured until the blade is manually pulled from the back of the bag for severing. Attachment of the edge portion of the blade to and tongue 26 may be attained by application of adhesive to the blade, or to the bag wall and tongue, or both.

The last described form of the bag may be used in the same manner as described for use of the forms of the bag earlier described herein.

It is a special advantage of the blade in those forms of the bag where the two walls of the receptacle are not secured together, that the the bottom fold or crease to remain firmly in contact even under severe shocks from pulverulent or granular materials, whereas in prior bags wher such a fold has been made with only the usual paper stock from which the bag body is formed, if the bag with contents is pressed upon at the bottom, or dropped, and if the infolded portion is not firmly secured to the back of the container all the way to the crease, the creased portion may be pushed longitudinally inwardly flattening out a portion thereof, and the content may then move past the line on which the bag has been creased, nullifying the purpose for which such fold was made. Some containers of this type of fold are made of easily deformable and even flimsy material so that such occurrence is a serious objection. The use of my blade makes for increased security of the bottom closure with a flimsy as well as ordinary envelope papers, even should there be a deficiency in the amount of adhesive, especially where it is not continuous across the full width of the container, and because it requires much less adhesive to hold the bottom fiap in folded relation against the back of the envelope opposing the bulging effect or leaking tendency of the contents when the tacks or spots of adhesive are located near the outer part of the tab of the blade, owing to the leverage action involved. That is to say, under prior practice, with only the material of the receptacle present and the end of the bag folded in and secured against the back wall, without attachment of th inner faces together as is common in P p bags, f the gum is omitted for a distance transversely of the package between the the back wall of the bag infolded part and the back wall, this unattached portion may unfold sufficiently to open the seal at the bottom crease under relativelymoderate stresses, due to the lackof rigidityin the paper andthe ease with which it may be flexed. If the two walls of such bag are not cemented together outwardly of the crease, contents will pass across the line of the fold where it has been relieved, and so sift out of the package at the sides or corners in that form where a tongue is projected and secured, or under this tongue if the adhesive is not continuous.

The outer wall 20 is drawn taut by the blade, and the blade edge presses into the crease and longitudinally outward against the paper at the crease so that the inner wall of the bag at the crease is firmly held in folded form and tightly confined between the blade and the outer wall. Also any tendency of the receptacle material in the bottom fiap to swing outward by pressure of the contents of the package pressing against the part of the bag therebelow is resisted by the blade acting as a lever having a fulcrum support in the crease, and opposing force or reactance at the point of attachment of its outer part to the wall of the bag. The stress at this point of attachment is greatly reduced by reason of the leverage effect.

In opening the bag in the several forms described, the tab 33 is lifted or pulled from the body of the bag, but need not be pulled longitudinally outward into alignment with the plane of the bag, nor is the blade utilized necessarily as a lateral shearing member, although these uses may be carried out, if desired. It is possible, however, after loosening the tab, to retain the blade in nearly original folded position, and with the body of the bag held at the top in one hand, as in Figures 12 and 13, the blade is held between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand in as nearly fiat folded position as possible, and pushed longitudinally of the bag downward while the bottom of the bag is pointed toward the receptacle into which it is desired that the contents shall fall. By exerting initial push near one end of the blade as in Figure 12, the starting of the shearing of the bag is facilitated, and as the shearing progresses it becomes easier so that slight effort only is required at the finish of the cut, and liability of over-reaching, flirting the bag, or striking the receptacle is minimized.

It is also possible to use the device as shown in Figure 14, in any of the forms disclosed, wherein the tab is pulled from the wall of the bag and swung outward to aline with the major plane of the bag, thumb and forefinger of one hand, and near one extreme lateral edge of the bag, while the immediately adjacent edge portion of the bag is similarly grasped between fingers of the other hand, and the two parts moved in opposite directions substantially normal to the major plane of the bag, and continuing the operation progressively on successive parts of the bag along the crease. The blade need not be specially hard.

I claim:

1. A container of the character described consisting of a receptacle formed substantially as a flattened tube with a front wall and a back wall creased across the end thereof including both walls for folding of the two over the back of the receptacle, said front wall having a full width tongue extension beyond the back wall, a blade member of relatively hard, relatively rigid material laid across the end of the receptacle against and the blade is grasped between the Y the exterior of the back wall, and having a severing edge close to and alined with said crease, said tongue being secured throughout its width to the blade, and said blade and the portions of the receptacle outwardly of the crease being folded inward upon the body of the receptacle and secured releasably to the back wall thereof.

2. An envelope or container consisting of a blank of flexible sheet material shaped to form a flat tube having front and back walls, one end being open for introduction of materials thereinto and the other folded on a line inwardly of the ends of both walls, the outer of said inturned end portions being extended beyond the other, a blade element set with an edge snugly in and continuing through the central .part at least of and having the extended end portion thereto, said blade being laid of the enevelope and having at least one small area of adhesive coengaged between itself and the outer face of the adjacent wall, said adhesive occupying only a small fracagainst the side tion of the width of the container and being of a character to permit separation of the blade and wall without destroying the continuity of the material of the wall or blade.

3. A receptacle container of the character described consisting of a substantially flat tube of thin flexible sheet material providing front and back walls and having a relatively stiff, hard blade secured across its outer end portion exteriorly of the receptacle, said blade formed with a transverse severing edge presented inwardly longitudinally of the receptacle and having a portion projected longitudinally from the end of the tube for manipulation as described, said receptacle being creased across the end portion, including both walls, close to the severing edge said blade and attached end portion of the receptacle being folded in at said crease upon the body of the receptacle and releasably secured to the exterior-surface of the underlying wallonly.

AUSTIN S. CHANDLER. 

